Improved fish processing boosts Lake Tanganyika exports to international markets

Kigoma. Fish exporters from Lake Tanganyika have credited their ongoing success in international markets to the improved quality of fish products from the lake.

In the past, processors would dry fish and sardines on the ground, and fishermen stored their catches in poor conditions, which led to spoilage. Now, new techniques have helped solve these problems.

Speaking on September 7, 2024, Theresia Malubya, the Acting Quality Control, Standards, and Market Officer for Fisheries Products in Kigoma, explained that fishermen and processors received training through the FISH4ACP project on how to add value to their products and make them more appealing to foreign markets.

The FISH4ACP project is funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute (TAFIRI) in Kigoma and Katavi regions.

"After receiving training through the FISH4ACP project, people now know how to properly store and preserve fish. Between June 2023 and July 2024, a total of 66,961 kilograms of fresh fish were processed and exported to countries like Canada, Australia, the U.S., the DRC, Zambia, and Burundi, earning Sh43 million," said Theresia.

Theresia, who also oversees fish quality in Katavi and Rukwa regions, noted that 174,574 kilograms of dried fish were processed and exported, generating Sh88.5 million. Additionally, 28,777 kilograms of fresh sardines brought in Sh22 million, while 125,384 kilograms of dried sardines earned Sh90.9 million.

"Even when the lake was closed for fishing, processors had already learned how to store fish products using cold storage systems," she added.

Jamilo Athumani, Managing Director of Mkuyu Fish Export Company in Kigoma, said that the quality of fish products for export depends on how they are collected from the lake.

"We’ve trained people on how to properly collect sardines and fish, and this has allowed us to receive better-quality products. In the past, we often received spoiled goods. Now, fishermen use ice to store fish while at the lake, and they deliver them to us in good condition," Athumani said.

He also urged the government to ensure that any agreements made with other countries bordering Lake Tanganyika are enforced when the lake is closed for fishing. He expressed concern that while Tanzanian fishermen are restricted, fishermen from other countries continue fishing, which harms Tanzania’s markets.

Currently, Tanzania exports fish and sardines from Lake Tanganyika to the U.S., Canada, Australia, Kenya, Burundi, and other African countries.

Damian Remi, owner of Ruhebeye Company, which exports sardines from Kigoma, said that since the lake reopened, he has already exported over three tons of sardines abroad.

"I have never exported this amount of sardines before. Not only do we have more sardines, but their quality has improved because processors, through the FISH4ACP project, have learned how to add value to the products," he said.

Improved fish quality

Theresia explained that before the lake was closed, fishermen had to travel long distances to catch fish, which led to poor-quality products due to a lack of proper storage.

"The fish products at that time were small and of low quality, making it hard for processors to find suitable fish to work with," she said.

Since the lake reopened, the quality of sardines and fish has improved and is now meeting market demands. Samples of the fish products have been sent to laboratories to test their composition and smell.

"Processors have been trained through the FISH4ACP project on how to preserve fish using ice and add value before selling. Many processors now have these skills, which has helped increase the value of the products exported abroad," she said.

Theresia emphasized the need to continue the FISH4ACP project to reach more people, as many in the fishing sector still lack the skills needed for success.